Golf in America goes back a long, long way. Begun when the first Scottish golf professionals, caddies and players, came to the states in the 1890’s, the game grew from these golfing pioneers into the national obsession that millions of Americans love and enjoy today.
Already over a century old, Mosholu Golf Course, opened in 1914, was a huge part of those early days. Mosholu Golf Club, once also known as the Riverdale Group led by T. McClure Peters, lobbied the NYC Parks Commission to use part of Van Cortland Park to lay out the course. When the Commission granted the land to build the golf course, theyt mandated that the course be open for all, thus creating one of America’s very first public golf courses. Up until then, Golf, which began, and grew, all up and down the East Coast from Boston and Long Island down to North Carolina at places like nearby St. Andrew’s Golf Club(1892) was a totally private past-time.
“It means a lot to us to be one of the first public courses in the country,” said Mosholu’s golf course superintendent David Moffett. “We’re also the home course of The First Tee of Metropolitan New York. Hundreds of kids, and many Manhattan private schools, practice and play here, and so we’re home to the future of the game, too.”
In recent years the course, located in the northwest Bronx, Mosholu has enjoyed a rebirth under the supervision of Atlantic city area based, but Westchester, NY born and raised, architect Stephen Kay, and partner Doug Smith. Mosholu is a Nine-hole, par 32, layout. Five Par Fours, none longer than 400 yards, and four Par Threes, measuring about a hundred yards to about 170 from the White tees, Mosholu is a total blast to play. Among the best conditioned municipal courses in the State, Mosholu’s rolling fairways and contoured greens provide players the perfect golf experience for all types, and levels, of golfers alike. With a friendly, family-oriented atmosphere, Mosholu is the course you must come and play, if you love the game, and its history, at least once. Recently recognized as the 23rd Best Public Golf Course in the State, and rated 12th by GolfPass for Top 25 9 Hole golf courses in America, Mosholu boasts a unique 10,000 square foot putting green and chipping area that provides a place to warm up or hone your short game touch and skills in practice.
Favorite holes of the locals include the 392-yard Par 4 dogleg left 1st hole and the 144-yard Par 3 Fifth hole, which plays downhill over a little valley.
“The par threes here are really great,” said Moffett. “ Number 9, in particular, has a 10,000 square foot Biarritz green which is really cool and very unique.”
“It’s a pretty special place,” said Moffett, who’s been at Mosholu for about 15 years. “ Its like my little Bronx-ian Oasis. You drive right through the gate and ‘bam!”, you’re like “where did this come from”.”
Located in the North Bronx, just east of Van Cortland Golf Course, where Baseball great Babe Ruth used to play, Mosholu is a most convenient golf course to get to for the residents of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Lower Westchester. Just a short walk from the Woodlawn stop of the 4 Train, and just a few hundred yards from Exit 13 off the Major Deegan Expressway, Mosholu has it all right smack in the middle of it all.
Mosholu Golf Course
3545 Jerome Ave, Bronx, NY 10467
(718) 655-0655
